Improvement in clothes-line fasteners



H. MOSS.

Clothes-Line Fastener;

Patented Aug. 31,1875.

J 7&veni021 4 N-PETEHS FHOTO-UTHOGRAPMER, WASHINGTON. D C.

HENRY MOSS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLOTHES-LINE FASTENERS.

Specification formingpart of Letters Patent No. 67,350, dated August 31, 1875; application filed March 29, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:.

Be it known that I, HENRY MOSS, of Balti more, in the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Self Clothes-Line Fastener, of which the following is a specification:

This invention has for its object to improve upon the complex mechanism now generally employed for supporting, stretching, and fastening clothes-lines preparatory to receiving, or whiledryin g, articles suspended therefrom.

My invention consists in forming a block or stop, around which the clothes-line passes, with a longitudinal curved groove, and with an inclined biting-surface, and hanging or pivoting said block eccentrically upon a hearing or axis in such a manner that when a clothes-line is inserted into the curved groove between the block and the support of the staple or axis, the line can be drawn down between the two by hand with ease and facility, until it is taut or stretched, and on the face, and being released, the stop or block will, owing to the pressure exerted on its top portion, turn upon its axis, causing its bitingsurface to grasp and hold firmly the line in its taut or stretched position.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved self clothes-line fastener, showin g the clothes-line as held in a taut position. Fig. 2 is a front view, and Fig.3 is a side elevation, showing the device as applied directly to a wall or post.

In each of the figures like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, the letter A designates the block or stop, B a metallic plate, 0 a staple or axis, and D a portion of a clothesline. The block A is made of cast or other metal, or of wood, and is provided with a recess, E, out of its center, by which means the said block is hung or pivoted upon the staple or axis 0.

To enable the block to be readily attached or detached from its bearing 0, I form an incline surface, a, extending from the edge of said block inwardly, until it terminates abruptly in the recess E, so as to produce a slight projection, b, which prevents the block from leaving its bearing when the rope D is stretched, as in Figs. 1 and 3.

The rear portion of the block is formed with a longitudinal curved groove, 01, extending from at or about the top e to and terminating in the inclined biting-surfacef. The curved groove at the top portion e flares outwardly on each side, as designated by dotted lines 9, so as to prevent binding of the rope, and at the same time enables the block to be slightly moved or turned backward when the line is subjected to weight of the clothes, and pressure is applied to its free end for disengaging the biting-surface, to stretch or slacken the line.

The block is eccentrica-lly hung or pivoted upon the staple or axis, which may be cast with the bearing -plate B or riveted to the same. Instead of the staple or axis 0 of the block being connected with the plate, the said staple may be driven into a wall or post, F, and the block hung thereupon, as in Fig. 3.

The line, it will be seen, passes around the back of the block between it and "the plate B or post or wall F, and is guided in the curved groove 01, and the block is free from accidental displacement so long as the line is in position. When the line is removed, the block is readily detached by depressing the top of the block, causing the inclinef to slide against the side of the plate B, which will cause the incline a to pass by the stapleO and the block be free to be lifted up out of or from its hearing.

Anti-friction rollers will in some instances be arranged in the groove (1 at or about its top portion, for the purpose of decreasing the friction between the clothes-line and the surface of the block.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In combination with the staple or'axis G, the removable block A, constructed with the curved back, having a longitudinal groove, (1, extending from the top of the block to the inclined biting-surfacef, and the inclined surface a, enlarged recess E, and shoulder b, all substantially as shown and described.

In'testiniony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

HENRY MOSS.

Witnesses:

A. H. NoRRIs, J 0s. L. OooMBs. 

